U.S AZERI AND TURKISH DIASPORAS FOUNDS PAX TURCICA INSTITUTE FOR INCREASING KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF THE TURKIC WORLD

13 January 2011 | APAFor the first time in the history, US Azeri and Turkish Diasporas have establishment a Pax Turcica Institute (PTI), a U.S.-based non-profit research and advocacy organization dedicated to increasing knowledge and awareness of the Turkic world, and advancement of the common Turkic-American interests, APA’s Washington DC correspondent was told by the Diaspora members.PTI is going to hold a Pax Turcica conference this spring at one of the biggest universities in United States.
Furthermore, the PTI will work towards the establishment of expert scholarly boards to facilitate research projects, educational programs on Turkic history, identity, languages, cultures, on geopolitical and economic affairs in Central Eurasia, on the US relations with Turkic nations, and other topics of interest.

Another goal, that PTI has set up for itself is working on establishing Azerbaijani Studies Program at any of the popular US institutions of higher education.

01/14/2011
By Mariam Karouny
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon will start talks on Monday to form a new cabinet after a rift between Hezbollah and Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri over expected indictments for the 2005 killing of his father toppled the government.
Few think a new cabinet likely until a compromise is found in the dispute over the possible indictment of Hezbollah figures by a U.N. tribunal probing Rafik al-Hariri's assassination.
Hezbollah, which is supported by Syria and Iran, denies any link to the assassination and says the tribunal is an "Israeli tool." The group has asked Hariri to repudiate the tribunal and withdraw Lebanon's support. The West and Saudi-backed Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, rejected their demands.
The government collapsed when 11 ministers resigned after Saudi Arabia and Syria failed to forge a deal over the tribunal. According to the constitution the president must name a prime minister to form the government after binding consultations with members of 128-member parliament.
Hariri's coalition won a majority in a 2009 election but since then Druze leader Waleed Jumblatt, who was Hariri's strongest ally and who heads a bloc of 11 deputies within Hariri's coalition, has declared himself neutral.
Under Lebanon's power sharing system the president must be a Maronite, prime minister a Sunni and the speaker a Shi'ite.
Below are some scenarios:

HEZBOLLAH AND ALLIES FORM CABINET WITHOUT HARIRI
Hezbollah and its allies, with Jumblatt's backing, could ask a Sunni supporter to form a government excluding Hariri and his allies. The government's main role would be to oppose the tribunal and withdraw Lebanon's support for it.
But excluding Hariri would cause resentment among the wider Sunni population in Lebanon who see him as their main leader, and would feel they had lost their role in the country. Violence could erupt, and bombing could return to the streets.
Another risk could also be angering Sunni jihadi groups, close to al Qaeda's thinking, who see Hezbollah as an arm of Shi'ite Iran in the country which should be opposed.
Regional countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who are worried about Iran's growing influence in the region, would likely oppose such a government and seek to isolate it.

HARIRI IS ASKED TO FORM A GOVERNMENT AGAIN
Hezbollah and its allies might ask Hariri to form the new government but with conditions, such as cutting ties with the tribunal, stopping its funding and vetoing some names in Hariri's bloc.
Hariri is likely to reject those demands and refuses to form a government which will give in to Hezbollah's demands.
If he rejects the nomination, talks will be renewed.
Hariri might decide to form a government without Hezbollah and its allies. Hezbollah would consider the government an arm of the tribunal, and would oppose it. The security situation would blow up. Street fights similar to the gun battles in 2008 would occur.

FACTIONS AGREE ON A COMPROMISE CANDIDATE
One of the options discussed is that Hariri, Hezbollah and their allies name a "neutral" candidate who can oversee procedures for Lebanon to withdraw its support for the tribunal, pull the Lebanese judges and stop the funding.
Such a scenario is seen as the ultimate compromise which can secure the country's stability without weakening Hariri or exposing him so that he could lead another government later.
Officials say privately that such an option is likely to have Saudi and French backing. Washington, which insists the tribunal should continue its work no matter what, opposes it.



US ARMENIANS START CAMPAIGN AGAINST BRYZA'S NOMINATION
13 January 2011 | APA (Azeri News)
US Armenians start campaign against newly-appointed ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza.

US Armenian leaders have urged its Diaspora members and pro-Armenian politicians to create tensions in Washington DC for the new Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza during this year, APA reported.

Armenians’ campaign starts in California, where they already began sending letters to US Senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendes, who stood deeply against Bryza’s nomination during Senate’s last 111th session.

Both senators are considered to be pro-Armenian. The Diaspora calls on them to get support at the Senate for explaining President Obama that the recent Ambassador appointment is against Obama’s promises to Armenians during his election campaign.The Amenians also call on the Senate to value this question as priority one. The Senators will come to Washington DC on January 25th.In their turn, US Turkish and Azeri Diaspora activists told APA’s Washington DC correspondent they will launch a counter-campaign in any case.

US President Barack Obama used his authorities and appointed Matthew Bryza ambassador to Azerbaijan without approval by the Congress. But the Congress should approve his nomination within a year. Otherwise Obama’s decision will lose its force and Bryza will be recalled.

A.Bez